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Book Reviews

denominationalism was really all that new, or merely a refinement of tendencieslong present among some Baptists, is debatable. Still, this is a good study.Lamar University JOHN W. STOREYTransitions: The Centennial History of the University of Texas at Arlington, 1895-z995.By Gerald D. Saxon. (Arlington: University of Texas at Arlington Press, 1995.Pp. xiv+19o. Foreword, acknowledgments, preface, notes, bibliography, illustra-tions, credits, index. ISBN 0-932408-19-2, $29.95, cloth.)Gerald D. Saxon has prepared a concise history of the University of Texas atArlington (UTA) that depicts a 1 oo-year struggle by strong-hearted advocates ofeducation to provide access and seek excellence. Current UTA President RobertE. Witt says it well in the book's foreword: "It is a history written in terms of vi-sion and values, individuals and events, social and economic forces, the politicsof Texas, a few failures and many more successes."Created in 1895 as a private school, called Arlington College, it had a slow be-ginning. Four attempts by the Arlington community and educators to establishand support a private intermediate and secondary school in the town failed as fi-nancial and even legal difficulties mounted. By 1917, leaders in the communityset out to convince the legislature that a junior college should be established inArlington. The result was that Grubbs Vocational College, a branch of TexasA&M, opened its doors in 1917. Grubbs became North Texas Agricultural Col-lege (NTAC) in 1923 and Arlington State College (ASC) in 1949.Saxon uses his sources well as he describes the slow development of the insti-tution. After the change to ASC occurred, he notes fundamental changes duringthe next eighteen years: the school became a senior college, was the first TexasA&M school to integrate, added graduate-level courses, saw enrollment grow sig-nificantly, began a land acquisition and building program, and gained nationalrecognition in football.In 1965 ASC moved from the A&M to the University of Texas system as theUniversity of Texas at Arlington and announced its readiness to become a re-search-oriented university for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. During the nexttwenty-five years the university emerged as a highly respected state university,with enrollment passing 25,000.Saxon does not neglect important changes in the student culture. He discuss-es student activities and traditions, student leadership, intramural sports, theRebel theme controversy, and campus diversity.This book will be treasured by former students and will be useful to those in-terested in the development of higher education, especially in Texas.University of Texas, Austin MARGARET C. BERRYJustice Lies in the District: The U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 902-9i6o.By Charles L. Zelden. (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1993.Pp. xii+3 13. List of illustrations, list of tables, acknowledgments, introduction,